Dana is a lifelong resident of Seattle and has lived in West Seattle since 2009. Dana is a graduate of Garfield High School and Western Washington University, where she majored in outdoor recreation. Dana has worked with children in many capacities: summer nanny, camp counselor, environmental educator, surf instructor, as an educator at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, teacher at Tiny Trees outdoor preschool and currently as a preschool educator.

Outside of the classroom, Dana coaches high school soccer at Seattle Prep and enjoys being outside. Dana loves opportunities that provide energy releases (preferably outside such as walks, riding bikes, and yard work), creative releases (knitting, sewing, art projects, and story-telling) and curiosity opportunities (low tide investigating of Salish Sea marine invertebrates, stargazing, and solving problems alongside young minds). Dana is married to Brian and mother to two active and creative sons, Lincoln (11) and Felix (8).